Rim and mud lug



W. A. ANTILOTTI ET AL Jan. 27, 1925.

RIM l.um MUD LUG Fped may 11, 1922 2 Sheets-Smet 1 M w.. A

Jan. 27,1925. 1,524,613

w. A. AN'nLoT'rl ET AL RIM AND MUD LUG Filed May 11, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet2 @er C Jannes m11 Patented Jan. 27, i925.,

Ferca;

BIM AND Application led May 11,

[o all 'whom it. may concern.

Be it known that we, VILLIAM A. ANTI- Lor'ri and EDGAR C. JoNns,citizens of the United Statesyresiding at Atlanta7 inthe county'ofDekalb and State of Georgia,have invented new -and useful Improvementsin Rim and Mud Lugs, of which the following is a specification.-

This invention rela-tes to devices for securing demountable rims onvehicle wheels and has for its principal object the `provision of meansfunctioning by wedge-like action to hold the rim securely uponthe fellyof the wheel7 said means being guided by a track secured to the felly,which track and wedgingmeans are cooperably shaped to hold the latterinrimengaging position throughout the major portion of the range voftravel of said wedging means uponsaid track, but being s'o shaped at onepoint as to permit the movement of the wedging means in adirectiontransversely of the rim and track so as to place the-wedg'ingmeans out ofl rim engaging position and thus permita` the removalfoftheA rim. l

Another object of the invention isthe construction of a rim-securingdevice' as above described, the'wedgingelement of which is providedwit-ha road 'engaging mud lug the 4latter (functioning to tighten thegrip of the wedging member against the rim when the wheel is subjected.to theadditional tractive load imposedupon it inv traveling throughheavy gro'ads;

Anotherfvobject I of the invention is the .provisionfof the mudvlugzwitha telescopic tractive element.- automatically adjustable from maximum toyminimum extension :to suit .f various tractive conditions.

' This invention isian :improvement on .the device disclosed and claimedin our pending application -No.179,289', filed June 21,l 1921, andcontemplates the yrealization in an -improvedmanner ofall the broadobjects for which zthe-original device wasinvented.`

With ther above and other obj ects in view, my invention rconsists intheimproved rim and .mud lugsY illustrated inthe accompanyingdrawings,described in the followin specification,v and? particularlyclaimed, anc :inlsuch variations and .modifications thereof asywillbefobviousto/.those skilled in the art to lwhich my inventionrelates.

MUD Lne;

1922. sei-iai No. 560,135.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification,and wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illust-rated:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the felly of an automobilewheel having my improved rim lug. applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view ofv the rim lug mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along thelineB-S of Figure 1,showing the rim lug in rim engaging position.

Figure-4 is a detail of Figure 8, in section, showing the rim lug swungoutof rim engaging position.

Figure is a cross sectional View of a portion of the felly and rim of anautomobile wheel showing a modified form of rim lug having an adjustabletractive portion.

Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, a side elevation and a front view ofthe rim lug Vshown in Figure 5 withthe adjustable tractive elementremoved therefrom.

Figures 8 and 9 show, respectively, in section and front elevation, theadjustable tractive element.4

Referring now in detail to the several ligtires, .the numeral 1-designates the felly of an automobile wheel which is shod on itsperipheryand one of its side surfaces with the metallic fixed rim 2, thelatter havmg an upturned flange 3, forming an annular abutment forlimiting the inward movement of the demountable -rim 4L which is adaptedto be telescopically varranged with respect to .ring7 a portion of whichis shown in cross section at 6. This ring is provided tol take thethrustA of the rim lugs 7 .afnumber of which lugs are intendedto :bearranged@ at intervals around the felly' ,ofthe wheel. fIt

is in the construction of the rim lug and in the means for carrying thesame upon the felly that the present invention resides.

A base plate 8 is secured to that side of the felly which is oppositethe upturned tlange 3 by means of bolts 9 which pass throughcounterbored apertures 10 near the ends of said base plate and throughaligning apertures bored through the felly. The base plate follows thecurvature of the felly and carries integrally therewith or securedthereto a projecting track 11 which also follows the curvature of thefelly, and in addition is curved divergently outward at a small angle tothe front face of the felly as is clearly shown in Figure 2. This trackcomprises a bead 12, shown in Figures 3 and et, of substantiallycircular cross section, which joins the base plate 8, the latter beingprovided with a pair of grooves 18 one lying on each side of the base ofsaid bead. Each rim lug` 7 is formed with an enlarged end 14 having acentral aperture which slidably fits the bead 12 of said track, saidenlarged portion being also provided with extensions 15 vwhich lit thegrooves 1?) and are slidable therein. This construction prevents thetransverse turning of the rim lug on the track, the bottoni walls of thegrooves 13 cooperating with the extensions 15 to maintain the rim lug ina position in the path of transverse movement of the demountable rim et,thus preventing` the lateral displacement of said rim.

In order to tighten the rim lug against the rim it is merely necessaryto push said rim lug to the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 so that ittravels along` the inclined track toward the. ring G., engaging thelatter with a wedge-like action. The iinal tightening of the rim lugagainst said ring is accomplished by tapping it with any convenientinstrument so as to cause it forcibly to wedge itself between the ring 6and the track 11. The upper surface of said track is provided with aplurality lof ratchet teeth 16, the abrupt shoulders of which face inthe direction of tightening` of the rim lug. A spring detent 17 iscarried by said rim lug in any desirable manner and a slight recess 18is provided in the rim lug behind said spring detent so as to permitsaid detent to flex in either direction. When the rim lug is moved inadirection to move the ring 6 against the flange 5 of the rim, thedetent 17 passes over the sloping` shoulders of the ratchet teeth 16 andsprings over said abrupt shoulders thus avoiding accidental looseninglof the rim lug, but said detent and abrupt shoulders do not, however,prevent the forcible movement of the rim lug in a direction to releasethe ring tl when the impact of a tool or other instrument is appliedthereto.

`The track 11 is slightly reduced in diametric as at 19, adjacent thatend which. lies fartherest from the felly and the base plate 5% is outaway beneath the reduced portion o l said track forming a tunnel 2Owithin which the eni ojed portion 14e of the rim lug can freely rotate.This is shown in Figure Ll. `When it is desired to remove thedemountable rim from the felly of the y wheel, the rim lug 7 is movedlongitudinally of the track 11 to a position of alignment with thereduced portion 19 of the track, at which point it may be partiallyrotated upon the track so as to be swung` clear of the transverse pathof movement of the demountable rim to permit the removal of the ring Gand of said rim from the folly of the wheel.

The grooves 13 are. continued lbeyond the tunnel 2O as shown at 21 Fig.2) so that the rim lug 7 may be freely removed from the track ifdesired. This feature, however, iinds its greatest utility in theinitial assembling of the lug upon the track 11. A stop 22 is formed onsaid track at the end of the latter` opposite the reduced portion 19which prevents the rim lug being forced off said end of said track.

yThe great advantage of this mud lug over existing constructions is thatit requires no special tool or wrench for its operation, that it finds anew seat for itself on the ring as the parts become worn, thus avoiding`all looseness, noise and danger of accident, and that it is not readilylost, it being unnecessary ever to remove the rim Vlug from the trackafter its initial assemblage thereon.

In the form shown in Figure 5 the principle of operation is the same asin that shown in Figs. 1 to et, inclusive except that the undercuttunnel 20 is omitted, the rim lug 7 being slid completely ofi' of thetrack 11, instead of being given partial rotation thereon when it isdesired to remove the rim from the felly. In this form the rim lug isextended radially of the wheel at one side of the tire 24: to form a mudlug 23 which is adapted to make traction with the road when the tiresinks into soft ground` The mud lug 23 is made adjustable in depth andto this end the rim lug 7 is provided with a shank 25 extendingobliquely from an upper shoulder 26 formed on said rim lug and isadapted to slidably engage within an aperture 27 formed within the mudlug 23. Said mud lug is provided near its inner end with a transverseslot 28 which communicates with the bore aperture 27 and through whichextends the lower end 0f a spring detent Q9 fixed to the mud lug bymeans of the screw 30. The shank y25 is provided with a ratchet face.engageable with said spring detent, the teeth of said ratchet face beingprovided with abrupt shoulders 31 facing toward the shoulder 26 of therim lug. When the mud lug 23 telescopes upon the shank 25, as is shownin Figure 5, the detent 29 moves over and. engages the ratchet teeththereof, perlnitting the inward movement ot the mud lugbut-preventingthe outward extension thereot due to the abutment ot thedetent 29, against the abrupt shoulders 3l ot the ratchet teeth.v

In normal operation the mud lug 23 is set to `an out-ward position, asshown in dotted lines in Figure `,5,tor-travelling in vsott ground. Asthe` thrust ot the ground rim lugs'hav-ing mud lugs with thosefnotequippedy withunud lugs` when travelling upon paved streetsor in dryweather, since the mud lugs, when they strike, hard or paved siirtaces,ivill at once be pushed inwardly to the position shown in Figure 5and'remain out ot tractiverelation with `the road bedy untilagainYmanually drawn out to their extended i position.

Having described our invention lwhat we claim as new anddesire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. In combinationa telly, a demountable rim therefor, aplurality-otmeans tor securing said rim to saidtelly, at leastone otwhich includes a lug, `means on saidY telly tor supporting said' lug, inrim engaging position, saidl lug being slidable5 along said means, saidmeans;and said lug ,being so cooperably shaped at one point asto permitsaid lug to swing outlet rim engaging position while being retained bysaid supporting means.

2. Means tor securing a demountable rim to a telly comprisingr a baseplate adapted to be secured to the telly and a lug adapted to engage thedemountable rim, said base plate being provided with a track elementextending in a direction divergent to the side ot the telly when saidbase plate is attached thereto, said lug being slidable along said trackand tormed to interlock therewith against lateral disconnection, saidlug and track element being so shaped as to support said lug in positionto engage the rim.

3. Means tor securing a demountable rim to a telly, comprising a baseplate adapted to be secured to the telly and a lug adapted to engage thedemountable rim, said base plate being provided with a track elementextending in a direction divergent to the side ot the telly when thebaseplate is attached thereto, said lug being slidable along said track andtormed to interlock therewith against lateral disconnection, said lugand track element being so shaped as to support said lug in positiony toengage the riin through the. major part ot its range ot slid-V ingmovement, said track element being shaped. at one point topermit saidlug to swing out ot rim-engaging position.

4. In combination. a telly, a demountable rim therefor, a .plurality otmeans tor securing said rim to said telly, at least one ot which.includes a lug, a track mounted on said telly and followingtheycurvature thereot, said track including a longitudinally arrangedbead inclined divergently to the side said telly, said rim lug beingyprovided with an opening partially surrounding said bead suiticiently.to be retained thereby and slidable thereon, means associated with saidbead and cooperatingA with said rim lug to prevent rotation ot thelatter during the majorsportion ot its range ot rmovement along saidbead, said means` being cut away at a` point adjacent that end otsaidlbead which -is most remote Atrom said telly to permitrotation `ot`said rim lug.

` 5. In combination a telly, ademountablc rim theretor, a plurality otymeans tor securing said rim to said telly, at least one ot whichincludes a lug, a track mounted `on said telly including a base plate, abead run-v ning longitudinlly ot said base plate andinclined theretoangularly to the side; ot said telly, a groove in said baseplate at thebottom ot said bead, said rim `lug vbeing provided with anopeningpartially surrounding said bead to be retained thereby, andslidablethereon, said rim lughavingan eX- tension cooperating with awall,v ot said groove to maintain said rim lug in rim engaging positionduring themajor portion vot its range ot sliding movement along saidbead,` the walls ot said groove being Vcut awayadjacent that end, otsaid bead which is most remote trom said telly to permit said rim lugvto swing out ot rim engaging position, when in yregistry with said cutaway portion.

6. In combination a telly, a demountable rim therefor, a plurality otmeans tor securing said rim to said telly, at least one ot whichincludes a lug, a track mounted on said telly comprising a base plate, abead arranged longitudinally ot said base plate and inclined divergentlyto the side ot said telly, a groove in said base plate at the bottom otsaid bead, said rim lug being provided with an opening partiallysurroundi to permit said rim lug to rotate about said y bead which ismost remote trom said telly bead lout ot rim engaging position,cooperating latching means on said bead and rim lug to preventaccidental displacement ot said rim lug trom` a tightened position, saidlatching means being yieldable to permit movement ot said rim lug in aloosening direction when suii'icient directive torce is applied to saidrim lug.

7., In combination a telly, a demountable rim theretor, a plurality otmeans tor securing said rim to said telly, at least one ot whichincludes a lug, a trackmounted on said telly comprising a base plate, abead arranged longitudinally ot said base plate and inclined divergentlyto the side ot said telly, a groove in said base plate at the bottom otsaid bead, said rim lug being provided with an opening partiallysurrounding said bead and retained thereby, a portion ot said rim lugcooperating with a wall ot said groove to maintain said rim lug in rimengaging position during the major portion ot travel ot said rim lugalong said bead, the walls ot said groove being cut away at a pointadjacent that end ot said bead which is most remote trom said telly topermit said rim lug to rotate about said bead out ot rim engagingposition, cooperating ratchet and detent mechanism on said bead and rimlug to prevent accidental displacement ot said rim lug trom a tightenedposition, said ratchet and detent mechanism being yieldable to permitmovement ot said rim lug in a loosening direction when suti cientdirective torce is applied to said rim lug.

8. In combination a telly, a demountable rim therefor, a plurality otmeans tor securing said rim to said telly, at least one ot whichincludes a lug, a track mounted l on said telly including a base plate,a bead running longitudinally ot said base plate and inclined theretoangularly to the side ot said telly, a groove in said base plate, at thebottom ot said bead, said rim lug being provided with an openingpartially surrounding said bead to be retained thereby, and slidablethereon, said rim lug having an extension cooperating with a wall otsaid groove 'to maintain said rim lug in rim engaging position, a stopat that end ot said bead which lies closest to the telly to limit thesliding movement ot said rim lug in one direction, said rim lug beingtreely removable trom the other end ot said bead.

9. In combination a telly, a demountable rim theretor, a ,plurality otmeans tor securing said` rim to Vsaid telly, at least one ot whichincludes a lug, a track mounted on said telly including a base plate, abead ruiming longitudinally ot said base plate and inclined thereto in aplane perpendicu lar to the plane ot rotation ot said telly, a groove insaid base plate at the bottom ot said bead, said rim lug being providedwith an opening partially surrounding said bead to be retained thereby,and slidable thereon.

10. In combination a telly, a demountable rim there-tor, a plurality otmeans tor securing said rim to said telly, at least one ot whichincludes the tollowing instrumentalities, a track element secured tosaid telly and a lug interlocking therewith, said lug being slidablealong said track element in a path divergent to the side ot said telly,said lug and track element being cooperably so shaped as normally tosupport the lug in position to engage the rim.

InV testimony whereot we have hereunto set our hands in presence ot twosubscribing witnesses. l l

WILLIAM A. ANTILOTTI. EDGAR C. JONES. Witnesses:

J. CLIFF Winsen, MAYNARD B. SMITH.

